Self and merrill k



(No Model.)

2., N. DE LEDGGHOWSKL LIFE PEP-SERVER. No. 309,032. Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

. WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

NTTED fl'ra'rns arrnr rrrcn.

ZENANE N. DE LEDOHOl/VSKI, OF LA SALLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HER- SELF AND MERRILL K. AUSTIhUOF SAME PLACE.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

UFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,032, dated December 9, 1884:.

. Application filed August 25, 1884.

To wZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ZENANE N. DE LEDo- OHOWsKI, of La Salle, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Life-Preserver, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved life-preserver, which can be folded very compactly when not in use, and can be inflated very quickly and easily for use.

The invention consists in a life-preserver formed of a buoyant ring, to which a bag for receiving the body is secured, and to which ring is also secured a float made of water-proof material provided with a series of inflatable pockets, and on the top of the float slabs of cork are secured and pockets are formed for receiving different articles.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is aplan view of my improved lif preserver. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same on the line as m, Fig. 1.

A hollow circular or oval ring, A, forms the center of the life-preserver, and to it a bag,B, is secured, which hangs downward and surrounds the body of the person using the lifepreserver. Two shoulder-straps, O, are secured to the hollow ring A, and are united by crossstraps D, crossing the body at the back and front. A U-shaped strap, E, secured to the hollow ring A, hangs down in the pocket or bag B, and is provided with a transverse piece, E, forming a seat. The legs are to rest on the bottom of the band or strap E. The float F, which is secured around the hollow ring A, is made of rubber or other water-proof fabric, and is either circular, diamond-shaped, or has the shape of a pointed ellipse, which latter shapeis preferred. This float is divided into a series of radial pockets, G, which are independent of each other, each being made absolutely air-tight. he said pockets increase in width from the center ring, A, toward the edges of the float, and are necessarily of various lengths. On the upper surface of (N0 model.)

the alternate pockets slabs or blocks H of cork are secured, which increases the buoyancy of the float. The slabs or blocks H are covered with water-proof material secured to the upper surface of the float, whereby the said slabs are held in place. Above the slabs H pockets J are formed for receiving victuals, liquorbottlcs, 850. In. the front part of the float a longitudinal pocket, K, is formed for receiving a flag-staff, L, formed of two lengths, on the top of which a signal-flag, M, is secured. A pipe, N, surrounds the hollow ring A, and is connected by a short pipe, R, with each pocket G. An inflating-tube, S, provided with a suit-able mouthpiece is arranged in front of the hollow ring A, and is connected with the said ring and with the tube or pipe N. The pipes or tubes R are provided at their inner ends with check-valves, to prevent the air from passing out of the pockets. Each pocket is provided with an outlet-aperture, T, closed at its inner end by a valve, Q, which valve can be opened to permit the air in the pockets to escape. In the front of the float a screw-socket, P, is secured for receiving the lower screwthreaded end of one section of the flag-staff L. The tube S is preferably made telescopic, so that it can be lengthened and shortened, as may be necessary. The front part of the hollow ring A is flattened, as shown. can easilybe inflated, and when inflated spreads out like an umbrella and floats on the water. The body of the person is surrounded by the bag B, and as the person is supported by the strap E there is no danger of rupturing the bag. f

The appliance is to be provided with folding oars, to be placed in a pocket provided for receiving them.

9 The entire apparatus is to be made of ruband the supporting-strap E are not perma nently secured to the buoyant ring A, but so that they can be detached from the same when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I receive the body,substautially as herein shown claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A life-preserver'formed of abuoyant ring surrounded by a collapsible float, and provided with a pocket or bag for receiving the body, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. A life-preserver consisting of a buoyant ring, a collapsible float surrounding and connected to said ring, and of a bag projecting downward from the said ring, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a life-preserver, the combination, with a buoyant ring, of a collapsible float connected to and surrounding said ring, a pocket or bag secured to the ring, and of a strap secured in the bag, and provided with a cross-piece serving as a seat, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. In a life-preserver, the combination, with a buoyant ring, of a collapsible float surrounding and connected to said ring, shoulder-straps secured to the ring, cross-straps uniting the shoulder-straps, and a bag or pocket extend ing downward from the ring and adapted to and described.

5. In a life-preserver, the combination, with a buoyant ring, of a collapsible float secured to the same, and provided with a series of pockets adapted to contain air, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. In alife-preserver, the combination, with a buoyant ring, of a collapsible float secured to the same and of blocks or slabs of cork sccured on thefloat, substantially as herein shown and described.

7. In a life-prese'rver, the combination, with a buoyant ring, of a collapsible float secured to the same, and pockets for receiving different articles formed on the top of the float, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. In a life-preserver, the combination, with a buoyant ring, A, of a collapsible float secured to the same, and a screw-socket, 1?, secured on the front of the said float, substantially as herein shown and described. I

9. In a life-preserver, the combination, with a buoyant ring, of a collapsible float secured 011 the same, a circular tube, N, surrounding the ring, and connected with the pockets, of the float, and of a mouth-tube, S, connected with the circular tube N and with the ring A, substantially as herein shown and described.

10. In a life-preserver, the combinatiomwith the buoyant ring 'A, of the collapsible float F,

'secured to the same, and divided into pockets G, each of which pockets is provided with an outlet at its inner end, substantially as herein shown and described.

11. In a life-preserver, the combination,with a buoyant ring, of a float secured around the same and of a series of short cork slabs secured on the float, substantially as herein shown and described.

ZENANE N. DE LEDOCHOWSKI.

Witnesses V GEORGE M. MURPHEY, FRANK B. BLIsH.

Affidavit having been filed showing that the name of the Inventor in Letters Patent No. 309,032, granted December 9, 1884, for an improvement in Life-Preservers should have been written and printed Znone N. de Ledchowski, instead of Zenztne N. de Ledochowski, it is hereby certified that the proper correction has been made in the files and records pertaining to the case in the Patent Otfice, and should be read in the Letters Patent to make it conform thereto.

Signed, eonntersigned and sealed this 13th day of J anuary, A. D. 1885.

M. L. J OSLYN, Acting Secretary of the Interim.

[SEAL] Oountersigned BENJ. BUTTERWQRTH,

Commissioner of Patents. 

